January/February 2011 Biblical Archaeology Review Magazine – Annual Archaeological Dig Issue

Dec. 30, 2010 - PRLog -- With each New Year comes the January/February issue of Biblical Archaeology Review—our Dig Issue and a reader favorite. This year you can help solve the case of the missing history. Those familiar with the popular CBS drama CSI know that the forensic detectives and lab technicians on the show are Crime Scene Investigators who use physical evidence to solve sometimes-grisly murders. Although Biblical archaeologists aren't usually trying to fight crime and their cases take longer than 60 minutes to complete, work on a dig can be just as full of excitement, puzzling clues and hi-tech gadgetry as the stories you see on TV. Our annual guide to excavations can help you find the dig that’s right for you and see if you have what it takes to become a “Dig Site Investigator.”

For 35 years, Herod’s tomb eluded Hebrew University archaeologist Ehud Netzer. Finally in 2007 a ruined mausoleum and a smashed sarcophagus were uncovered, providing the long-sought answer. And excavations at Herod’s magnificent eponymous desert retreat have now revealed much more. But as we finished up preparation of this article for BAR, we were shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely death of author Ehud Netzer following a fall at Herodium in late October. We are honored to publish, in his own words, “In Search of Herod’s Tomb” by Ehud Netzer.

Looking beyond the Holy Land now, the Jewish diaspora in Roman times and Late Antiquity was not just a scattering of people from the Land of Israel. Geographical, cultural, religious and language differences resulted in two distinct diasporas—western and eastern—one influenced by Hellenistic culture and the other by Rabbinic teaching. In “Why Paul Went West” Doron Mendels explains how this divide opened the door for the spread of Christianity in the west.

Finally, long known as the birthplace of rabbinic Judaism in the first century C.E., Yavneh is rich in both Jewish and Christian history. We now know that a Philistine temple was located here as well: Recent excavations have produced thousands of eighth-century B.C.E. Philistine cult objects—all found in a repository pit in a single 5-square-meter excavation. Read about the finds in “Yavneh Yields Over a Hundred Philistine Cult Stands,” based on the official excavation report. What still lies buried here?

As always, check out Biblical Archaeology Review on newsstands, or at www.biblicalarchaeology.org/bar.

So curl up by the fireplace—or at your computer—with the January/February 2011 BAR and our continually updated Web site.

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The Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) was founded in 1974 as a nonprofit, nondenominational, educational organization dedicated to the dissemination of information about archaeology in the Bible lands.